Rack structure for dishwasher



March 10, 1964 L. w. GUTH 3,124,251

RACK STRUCTURE FOR DISHWASHER Filed Aug. 16, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LAUREN W. GUTH i='se.\ WWW H S ATTO RNEY March 10, 1964 L. w. GUTH 3,124,251

RACK STRUCTURE FOR DISHWASHER Filed Aug. 16, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

INVENTOR LAUREN w. eu'rH WfW H\ ATTORNEY United States Patent "ice 3,124,251 RACK STRUCTURE FOR DISHWASHER Lauren W. Guth, Louisviile, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 217,331 3 Claims. (Cl. 21141) This invention relates to a rack structure, and more particularly to an improved rack structure especially suited for use in dishwashers so as to permit the loading of a substantial number of large and small dishes into a given space.

It is an object of my invention to provide, primarily for use in a dishwashing machine, a rack structure wherein the rack is formed so that small dishes may be positioned between adjacent large dishes which are supported on the rack, thereby to provide for the support of an increased number of dishes in a given space.

In one aspect of my invention, I provide an open framework dish rack in which a supporting base is provided; in the usual manner, this may be formed of a plurality of wire members extending at right angles to each other. A first plurality of aligned elongated members, which may also be of wire, are each secured at their bottom ends to the base as to extend upwardly therefrom. Each of these members may, preferably, be curved adjacent its bottom end to form a first portion extending toward an adjacent one of the members.

A second plurality of elongated members is provided; this second group intersects the first group of members intermediate the ends of the first group, i.e., above the base, extending angularly upward so as to form dish receiving recesses with the first group of members. By providing this relationship of the members, larger dishes, such as dinner plates, may be positioned on the base between each two adjacent members of the first group, and smaller dishes, such as saucers, may be positioned between the larger dishes in the recesses. What happens, in effect, is that the smaller dishes will tend to be spaced from the larger dishes as the result of the generally concave shape almost invariably provided for dinner plates and the like.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. My invention, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view, with some of the parts broken away to illustrate details, of a dishwasher incorporating my invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective of the improved rack of my invention as incorporated in the dishwasher of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a portable type automatic dishwasher 1. The dishwasher has a dishwashing compartment 2 formed by tub walls 3 with a top opening 4 adapted to be closed by a cover 5 hingedly mounted at the rear (not shown) of the machine. The bottom of compartment 2 may be formed by a generally downwardly sloping wall 6 which forms a sump 7 at the center thereof.

Within compartment 2 there may be provided a number of dish supporting members such as an upper rack 8 and a lower rack 9 which are designed so as to support dishes and other eating and cooking articles. Dishwasher 1 incorporates suitable washing means which, in this case, is embodied in a rotatable water ejecting member 10 positioned below rack 9, together with a telescoping member 11 positioned at the center of member 10. When under pressure, a portion 12 of member 11 rises somewhat,

3,124,251 Patented Mar. 10, 1964 and is provided with apertures in its top so as to eject water with substantial force against the dishes in the upper rack 8 at the same time that member 10 is ejecting water against the dishes in both racks.

Arm 10 and telescoping member 11 form a part of a pump motor assembly 13 which includes a motor 14. Motor 14 may, for instance, operate a pumping assembly 15 which receives its water through an inlet 16 positioned at the very bottom of sump 7. The motor may be of the type which, when rotated in one direction, causes the pumping assembly to force liquid up through members 10 and 11 and which, when reversed, causes the pumping assembly to pass the liquid out through a conduit (not shown) to drain.

It will be understood that with such a structure a complete dishwashing operation may readily be provided by means of a conventional sequence control assembly, not shown, which may be manually preset to a desired position by means of a dial 17. Such a control assembly, when properly preset by means of dial 17, controls in suitable sequence and for an appropriate number of cycles the entry of water and washing materials, the spraying of the dishes, and the removal of the water.

It will be understood that all the components, as described thus far, are conventionally provided in dishwashers widely available for purchase by the public.

The lower dish rack 9 shown in FIGURE 1 incorporates my invention and is shown in complete detail in FIGURE 2. Dish rack 8 includes a supporting base 18 which is conventionally formed of a number of wire members 19 extending in one direction and a second group of wire members 20 extending at right angles to the first group and welded at the points of intersection so as to form an open framework supporting base. If so desired, the ends of members 19 and 20 may be unturned as shown at 21, and secured by any suitable means such'as welding to an encircling wire member 22.

As presently contemplated, rack 9 includes a number of relatively conventional dish supporting members in the form of upwardly extending wire members 23, which may form a part of the rack 9 but which are not included as part of my invention.

In accordance with my inventive concept, I provide a first group of upwardly extending elongated members 24 through 31, preferably formed of wire like the remainder of the rack, which are secured at their bottom ends to the base 18 by any suitable means such as welding. Members 24 through 31 are provided in aligned pairs with the same general spacing as the members 23, so that between two adjacent aligned members, for instance members 28 and 35, a relatively large dish may be positioned. This is best shown in FIGURE 1 wherein it is shown that relatively large dishes, in the form of dinner plates 32 and 33, are positioned between adjacent ones of the members 30, 28 and 26.

It will be observed in particular connection with member 39, for instance, that adjacent its bottom it is provided with a curved portion 34 which extends toward the adjacent member 28. Above this curved portion 34 member 30 has a portion 35 extending straight upwardly, and then terminates at its top end with a small curved part 36 which extends in the opposite horizontal direction from curved portion 34. When the plate 32 is inserted between members 3% and 28 it seats on the base 18 of rack 9. The plate is prevented against tipping over by engagement at its front with curved portion 34 of member 31 and at its back by engagement with the top curved part 37 of member 28.

It will be observed that the two dishes 32 and 33 are in considerably spaced relation to each other, a relationship which is dictated by the fact that they are of similar shape and by the requirements of at least a minimum amount of space for maintaining similar articles in proper position for cleansing during a washing operation.

In order to utilize to advantage this space, which must necessarily be provided between relatively large dishes, I provide suitable means for supporting smaller dishes 38 and 39 so that, as can be seen with respect to dish 38, it is received between the two large dishes with plenty of room to spare. This results from the concave configuration which is invariably provided for the surface of dinner plates and which thus provides space for a smaller dish to be received between two adjacent larger plates.

To effect this goal, I provide a second group of elongated members, conventionally formed of wire, which are denoted by the numerals 40 through 47. Each of the members of this second group intersects a member of the first group above base 18; where a bottom curved portion is provided as described, the intersection occurs above that. Specifically, to illustrate this point, the member 46 intersects member 30 above portion 34 thereof, and has its portion 48 extending upwardly from the point of intersection. In addition to extending upwardly, the member 46 extends, to a limited extent, in the same horizontal direction as portion 34. In fact, it will be observed from FIGURE 1 that portion 35 of member 30, and portion 48 of member 46 are essentially in vertical alignment with each other.

By so forming the portion 48 of member 46, a recess 49 is formed between members 30 and 46 which is suitable for receiving relatively small dishes, such as dish 38, so that they are supported with their bottom edges above the base 18 of rack 9, generally within the concavity formed by the dinner plates 32 and 33 seated on the base. It can readily be seen that this relationship, as described in connection with members 30 and 46, exists for each assembly of members from the first and second groups. This permits the space between the large plates such as 32 and 33 to be utilized to advantage for the placement of small plates such as 38 and 39.

It will, of course, be understood that two adjoining assemblies of members from the first and second groups may provide the support for either the large or the small plates if so desired Thus, for instance, a single large plate will be positioned, at one side thereof, between members 28 and 30 and, on its other side, between members 29 and 31 so as to steady it on both sides By the same token, a small plate may be supported in two places also.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I provide an improved rack which, by the provision of simply and economically provided elements permits the stacking of a larger number of dishes in a given area without the sacrifice of washability.

It will, of course, be understood that while I have shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention I do not desire the invention to be limited to the precise construction disclosed. For instance, while the members of the first group such as member 30 have been provided with a special configuration, including a curved bottom portion 34, in order to help steady the dishes, it is perfectly conceivable that a straight wire might be used instead, with the wires of the second group simply intersecting the wires of the first group above the base. A further modification which very readily comes to mind is that the members of the second group may be formed so as to extend only upwardly from their intersection with the members of the first group, that is, so as to be anchored to the members of the first group rather than to the base as shown Thus, I intend by the appended claims to cover all such modifications, including but not limited to those described, as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An open framework dish rack comprising: a supporting base; a first plurality of aligned elongated members each secured at one end to said base and extending upwardly therefrom, each said member being curved adjacent its bottom end to form a first portion extending toward an adjacent one of said members; and a second plurality of elongated members respectively intersecting said first plurality of members intermediate the ends thereof and above said first portions thereof, and extending upwardly so as to form dish receiving recesses with said first plurality of members, each member of said second plurality extending from its intersection with a member of said first plurality in the opposite horizontal direction as each of said first portions, whereby larger dishes may be positioned between each two adjacent members of said first plurality and smaller dishes may be positioned between the larger dishes in said recesses.

2. The dish rack defined in claim 1 wherein each member of said second plurality extends approximately into vertical alignment as said first portion of the associated member of said first plurality.

3. The dish rack defined in claim 1 wherein each of said members of said first plurality includes a second curved portion adjacent the top end thereof, said second curved portion extending in the opposite horizontal direction from said first curved portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,956,685 Levi Oct. 18, 1960 

1. AN OPEN FRAMEWORK DISH RACK COMPRISING: A SUPPORTING BASE; A FIRST PLURALITY OF ALIGNED ELONGATED MEMBERS EACH SECURED AT ONE END TO SAID BASE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, EACH SAID MEMBER BEING CURVED ADJACENT ITS BOTTOM END TO FORM A FIRST PORTION EXTENDING TOWARD AN ADJACENT ONE OF SAID MEMBERS; AND A SECOND PLURALITY OF ELONGATED MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY INTERSECTING SAID FIRST PLURALITY OF MEMBERS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF AND ABOVE SAID FIRST PORTIONS THEREOF, AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY SO AS TO FORM DISH RECEIVING RECESSES WITH SAID 